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Related FAQs: TWA Invertebrates,
Fishes of the Tropical West Atlantic,
Tropical West Atlantic 2, Related
Articles: Algae, Vascular Plants,
Introduction to Fishwatcher's Guide Series Pieces/Sections,
Lachnolaimus maxiumus/Hogfish,
Hogfishes of the Genus Bodianus,
Invertebrates, Algae and Vascular Plants of The Tropical West
Atlantic: Bahamas to Brazil, Part 2 To:
Part 1, Part 3,
Part 4, Part 5,
Part 6, Part 7,
Part 8, Part 9, |
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| Bob Fenner |
Sponges |
Sponges,
Phylum Porifera
Classification: Sponges
comprise the phylum Porifera, whose name means "bearing openings"; an
allusion to their overall porosity and general mode of feeding
(filtration), respiring, excreting wastes while whipping water in
through openings in their body walls. Sponges are the simplest form of
multicellular animals, just up from protozoans and down from cnidarians
(stinging-celled like corals and anemones) in most taxonomic schemes.
They don't, in fact, have tissues or organs. Their cells are somewhat
unspecialized and quite independent, more like a commune or colony than
a single animal. There are about 5,000 identified
marine species of sponges. There are a few ambulatory types but almost
all are attached permanently to hard or soft substratums. Sponges are
found worldwide, mostly in shallow waters; in all colors and shapes and
sizes, from a thumbnail to a washtub. Some are cylinders, others
vase-like; most are crustose and irregular (shown: a Caribbean sponge
scene off of Tobago, Sponge scene in Tobago, Carib.).
The Porifera live up to their names by having a characteristic
arrangement of specialized cells imbedded in a spongy matrix (spongin),
incurrent pores (ostia) formed by porocytes allow water into an
open space (atrium) in their bodies and out one or more larger openings
(oscula-ae). Their outer walls are supported by non-living calcareous or
siliceous structural elements called spicules. Along with
proteins these are the sponge skeletons of bathroom sponges derived from
biological sources. |
Agelas conifera, the Brown Tube Sponge. Typically smooth walled,
brown to tan in color, smooth, velvety in appearance. Grow in
clusters, joined at base. Bonaire pic. | 
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Aplysina archeri, the Stove Pipe Sponge. Long thin tubes of
lavander, gray or brown. Soft to the touch. Tropical West Atlantic.
Bonaire pic. | 
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Aplysina cauliformis, the Row Pore Rope Sponge. Long rows of
excurrent siphons. Occur in tints of purple, reds. Antigua photo. | 
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Aplysina fistularia, the Yellow Tube Sponge. Yellow to orange
tubes that bear antler-like growths in shallows, and grow longer w/o
these "antlers" in increasing depths. Don't touch! Purple color
stains hands for days. Right: shallow colony in Bahamas and deeper
one in Belize . Below: young colonies in Antigua and Bahamas, and a
large one in Bonaire. |  
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Callyspongia plicifera. Azure Vase Sponge. Bahamas pic. | 
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Cinachyra sp. Orange Ball Sponge. Tropical West Atlantic, to 100
foot depth, under ledges, in protected areas. To about 1/2 foot
diameter orange ball-shapes, with many excurrent siphons riddling
their surface. St. Thomas image. | 
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Clathrina canariensis Yellow Calcareous Sponge (Class Calcarea).
A delicate, small (to four inches) bright yellow organism, made up
of intertwined tubes. Tropical West Atlantic; usually found within
caves or other shady spots. St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. |  
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Cribrochalina vasculum, the Brown Bowl Sponge. Bahamas pix. |  
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Diplastrella megastellata Red-Orange Encrusting Sponge.
Caribbean. To ten inches, seventy five feet in depth. Found in
shaded areas, even under rocks, overhangs. St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. | 
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Ectyoplasia ferox, Brown Encrusting Octopus Sponge. Occurs as
both encrusting and in multiple-armed arborose morphologies. Bahamas
pic. | 
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Iotrochota birotulata, the Green Finger Sponge. Made up of
finger-like branches, often covered with Golden Zoanthids (as
shown). Bahamas and St. Lucia pix. |  
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Ircinia felix, Class Demospongiae. Stinker Sponge. Light gray or
brown encrusting globes, 6-12 inches in diameter. Conspicuous
hexagonal markings on surface. Smells very bad on removal from
water. Cozumel pix, close-up by Diana.F | 
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Niphates digitalis, the Pink Vase Sponge. Pink, blue, gray. To
twelve inches in height. Bahamas and Cozumel pix. The second one
acting as a host/commensal for the zoanthid
Parazoanthus parasiticus. |  
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Phorbas amanthus, Red Sieve Encrusting Sponge. Cozumel pic by
Diana.F. Size 6-18 in. Bright red, with surface showing numerous
craters (raised circular sieve like areas) and small incurrent pores
around protruding excurrent openings. Reacts to touch by closing
openings and pores. | 
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Siphonodictyon coralliphagum, the Variable Boring Sponge. Not
for reef aquariums. Appears in various physical forms, fingers to
bowls, to encrusting patches. Bores into live corals. May appear
encrusting or tublular. Cancun pix. |  
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Spirastrella coccinea, a relatively common encrusting sponge,
here in Cozumel, a close-up by Diana.F. | 
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Tedania ignis, Fire Sponge. Tropical West Atlantic down to 35
ft. 4-12 inches overall. Distinctive volcano-like excurrent
openings. Orange to bright red in color overall. Irritating to the
touch. Bahamas and Bonaire pix. |  
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Xestospongia muta, the Giant Barrel Sponge. To six feet in
height. Bahamas pic. | 
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To: Part 1, Part 3,
Part 4, Part 5, Part
6, Part 7, Part 8,
Part 9, Part 10,
Part 11, Part 12,
Part 13, Part 14,
Part 15,
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